"Saved!" exclaimed the professor.

CHAPTER VI

THE CYCLONE

IT was only in the nick of time, for a second later and the big mammal
of the ocean would have struck the ship and split it from stem to
stern.

Higher and higher into the air mounted the Flying Mermaid, while in
the water below, the whale, incensed by missing his prey, was lashing
the waves to foam.

"Well, that was a narrow squeak; as close as I ever care to come to
it!" exclaimed Andy as he let go of the steel rail to which he was
clinging and entered the conning tower. "I had no idea of hitting the
big fish."

"I guess he would have taken after us whether you had fired at him or
not," said Mr. Henderson. "He was probably looking for trouble, and
took the first thing that came in his way, which happened to be us.
Some whales are like that, so I have read; big bull creatures, exiled
from the school to which they once belonged, they get like mad
creatures and know neither friend nor foe. Something like rogue
elephants, I imagine."

Now, having thus unexpectedly risen into the air, the professor
decided to continue travel in that style for a while at least. It